The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman is about a boy Nobody "Bod" Owens whose family is murdered when he is 1 1/2 years old. He ends up living in a very old cemetery and raised by ghosts and a guardian named Silas. He must stay within the graveyard for his own safety from "the man named Jack" who will surely murder him too. The story has many scary, funny, loving, sad and spooky elements to make the hair on your arms stand up.
Bibliography:
Gaiman, Neil. "The Graveyard Book". HarperCollins Publishers, New York. 2008.
My Impressions:
This is another gem from the reading list. The characters are believable and the story is intriguing to keep up late at night reading. I love the spooky and eerie things that Bod does and I love the character of Silas, his guardian. I like how Neil Gaiman can change the use of words to reflect different centuries and uses modern day technology in telling of the "live" world. But mostly I like how the emotions that Bod tries to understand and how touching he is when he says goodbye to those ghosts that he leaves behind. I think that this would be appropriate for children in the 4th grade and older.
Reviews:
The New York Times - Monica Edinger
The Graveyard Book, by turns exciting and witty, sinister and tender, shows Gaiman at the top of his form…The story's language and humor are sophisticated, but Gaiman respects his readers and trusts them to understand…In this novel of wonder, Neil Gaiman follows in the footsteps of long-ago storytellers, weaving a tale of unforgettable enchantment.
National Public Radio
“The invention of immortal folk who readers feel they might like to kick back with may be this prolific, tousle-haired, ex-pat British author’s contribution to world literature.”
Washington Post
“Like a bite of dark Halloween chocolate, this novel proves rich, bittersweet and very satisfying.”
Suggested Uses:
This is a great read aloud book and can be part of a Halloween display for older students.
Book Cover:
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